Founded in 1337, Troitse-Sergieva Lavra (Zagorsk) is the most important Russian monastery and the spiritual center of the Russian Orthodox church. It is about 43 miles to the northeast of Moscow, so we required a visa to visit it in 1990. The place was absolutely beautiful. So glad we got to see it.
Officially known as Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius
Gold Onion Domes
The town was originally known as Sergiev, after the monastery's founder, but was renamed during the Soviet period (to Zagorsk -- what it was called when we visited). The monastery was closed in 1920 by the Soviet government, but was reopened in 1945 after a shift in Stalin's religious policies. Stalin sought the support of the Russian Orthodox Church. After the fall of the Soviet Union (in 1991), the town returned to its original name Sergiev Posad. The monastery is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
I think this small Orthodox church was nearby.
Post created 29 May 2026